Los Angeles National Origin Discrimination Attorney
The religious freedom of Los Angeles workers and employees is protected by more than the First Amendment; employment laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibit employers from practicing religious discrimination in the workplace.
If you have been unfairly treated or penalized at work due to your faith or religious beliefs, Los Angeles religious discrimination lawyer Perry Smith is here to help.
Preserving Your Right to Religious Freedom
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that employers may not use an employee or prospective employee’s religious beliefs or affiliations as a factor in any employment decision, including:
- Hiring or firing
- Training or apprenticeships
- Promotions and demotions
- Wages or benefits
- Disciplinary action/suspension
In addition, employers must allow their employees to engage in religious expression and cannot force employees to participate in or refrain from religious activities, ceremonies, or rituals.
Enforcing Your Employer’s Obligations
Employers are required by state and federal employment law to allow reasonable accommodations for the religions of their employees. Such reasonable accommodations may include:
- Flexible scheduling
- Relaxing policies with disparate impact
- Allowing for task reassignments
- Permitting job swaps on a voluntary basis
- Providing vacation time for religious holiday
Los Angeles religious discrimination attorney Perry Smith can help you hold your employer to his or her obligations. However, there are some important exceptions to the above rule:
- Undue Hardship: an employer is not required to make accommodations for an employee’s religion if such accommodations would impose undue hardship on the employer or violate the rights of other employees.
- Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ): if religious affiliation is reasonably required for the performance of a job, it may be considered legal. An applicant for a pastor position at a church, for example, could be reasonably required to be of the appropriate faith or denomination.
Contact Us
Questions of religious discrimination in the workplace can often be very difficult to resolve – don’t fight your battle alone. Call Los Angeles religious discrimination attorney Perry Smith today at 888-356-2529 for experienced legal representation in your employment law case.